Electric branding iron



April 25, 1933. R. BRINDLEY ELECTRIC BRANDING IRON Filed Oct. 6, 1931I'VWlMEX 9 Fl g- E.

Patented Apr. 25, 19 33 UNITED STATES RALPH BBINDLEY, OF TACOMA,WASHINGTON ELECTRIC nn-nnnine IRON Application filed October 6, 1931.Serial 'No. 567,165.

This invention relates to branding irons and has special reference tothe means of heating the same. The objects of my invention are, first,to provide a branding iron which may be continuously maintained at asubstantially uniform branding temperature and which, therefore, may beused in such industries where the flow of articles to be branded issubstantial y continuous; second, to provide a means of heating abranding iron which will not require the branding surface to come intocontact with a flame, or heated coals, or other fouling material,thereby keeping the brand clean and clear even after much use; toprovide a branding plate which may be changed from time to time withoutchanging the electric connections; fourth, to provide an electriccircuit wherein the low-voltage large-amperage current traverses a veryshort circuit of which the major resistance comprises the brandingplate; and fifth, to provide a branding iron which is cheap to make,simple to operate, and effective in use.

I attain these and other objects by the devices and arrangementsillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of the complete branding iron, showing portions thereof insection to reveal the construction thereof; Fig. 2 is a bottom-plan Viewof the branding plate; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing theelectric circuit whereby the branding plate is heated.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throu hout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawing, the usual alternating electric-light circuit 1has a pressure or potential of about 110 volts. A stepdown transformer 2is inserted in said circuit and is of such proportions that the voltageof the secondary circuit 3 thereof is reduced to about siX volts. Arheostat 4 may be inserted in this secondary circuit 3 for the purposeof controlling the current therein. The secondary circuit 3 terminatesin a pair of plugs 5.

The handle 6 of the branding iron is of inverted U-shape, the ends ofthe two vertical portions 7 thereof being adapted to be connected to thebranding plate 8, as hereinafter described. The handle 6 is preferablymade hollow and of suitable insulating material, and is provided withelectrical sockets as hereinafter described, suitably secured therein.

The branding plate 8 comprises a flat metal plate from the lower side ofwhich extend the letters or figures 9 forming the brand. These letters 9are preferably formed integral with the main body of the plate 8. A pairof bosses 10 are similarly formed on the upper side of the plate 8,adjacent its ends, and are provided with plugs 11 extending upwardtherefrom whereby the plate 8 is secured to the two vertical legs 7 ofthe handle, and whereby the current is conducted to the plate 8 to heatit. The plate 8 is preferably made of high resistance, non-corrodingmetal, such as nichrome. i

The handle 6 is provided, in a suitable part, with apair of sockets 12adapted to receive the plugs 5 of the said secondary circuit The ends ofthe vertical legs 7 of the handle 5, are each provided with a socket 1",into which the plugs 11 of the branding plate Slit and are removablyretained. Each socket 12 is connected to a corresponding socket 13 bymeans of insulated wires 14.

Thus it will be seen that, when the two plugs 5 are inserted in thesockets 12 and the two plugs 11 are inserted in the sockets 13, thesecondary circuit 3 is completed and the electric current generated fromthe trans former 2 flows from end to end of the branding plate 8. Thisplate 8 is thus heated to a suiiicient degree to perform its function ofburning the letters or other brand mark into the wood, or other materialbeing branded, and is continuously maintained at such heat. Thetemperature of the plate 8 may be controlled bythe manipulation of therheostat 4. Since the temperature of the plate does not vary to anysubstantial degree, it follows that the articles may be branded in quicksuccession without having to reheat or clean the branding iron. When thebranding mark is to be changed, in order to apply a different brand tothe articles, it is only neces sary to pull Ofi the plate 8 from thehandle 6, thus removing the plugs 11 from the sockets l3 andsubstituting therefor another such plate in its place, and thuscontinuin the action with but a short interruption while the new brandplate is reaching its desired temperature.

Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In an electric branding iron, the combination of aninsulated manipulating handle having two separated legs; a unitarymetallic branding iron formed of a high resistance material and adaptedto be heated to branding temperature by an electric current pas g fromend to end thereof; electric contact plugs extending from one side ofsaid plate and adapted to enter sockets formed in the legs of saidmanipulating handle; means connecting said sockets with a source ofelectric energy; and branding marks formed integral with said plate andextending from the opposite side of said plate and heated therewith.

2. In an electric branding iron, the combination of an insulatedmanipulating handle having two separated legs; a unitary metallicbranding iron formed of a high resistance material and adapted to beheated to branding temperature by an electric current passing from endto end thereof; electric contact plugs extending from one side of saidplate; sockets in the ends of said legs of said manipulating handle andadapted to releasably hold said contact plugs therein; means connectingsaid sockets with a source of electric energy; and branding marks formedintegral with said plate and extending from the opposite side thereofand heated therewith.

RALPH BRINDLEY.

